Lodging

Dillard House Billboard

If you’ve ever found yourself winding through the North Carolina or Georgia Mountains, you may have come across a set of white letters stretching across the hillside that simply read: Dillard House. Although it’s no Hollywood, this quaint mountain retreat is a diamond in the rough.

You can usually get a glimpse of the Dillard House and its name stretching across the mountain easily when traveling north, but it can be easy to miss if traveling south through Georgia. Sitting in the hills, these Georgia mountain accommodations are most known for their family-style country cooking, but is great for a weekend retreat or family vacation.

When lodging at Georgia’s Dillard House, expect accommodations that are resort-like, giving you the option of rarely having to leave the premises. Activities on-site include horseback riding, fishing, a farm zoo, tennis courts, swimming pool and jacuzzi, gift shop and beautiful grounds for walking around. Activities in the area include wine vineyards, golf, whitewater rafting, hiking and shops.

The pinnacle of the Dillard House is the full-service restaurant offering family-style country cooking. People drive from miles around just for the restaurant. Enjoy a variety of home-cooked favorites like fried okra, fried chicken, country ham, cornbread and cobbler. During the warmer months, they often have music outdoors and serve a sampling of their dinner menu, which usually involves either fried or barbecued chicken.

Dillard House Restaurant and Inn

Accommodations at the Dillard House are split up into the inn, the Rock House, chalets and cottages. The chalets and cottages are great for a family vacation, while guests usually prefer the inn or Rock House for something a little more intimate. Rates vary depending on the season. During the early fall you can get a room in the Rock House for as low as $59 per night or a jacuzzi suite for $139 per night. Chalets range from $79 to $229, depending on the season, and the cottages start at $99 per night.

Thanks to turtlemom4bacon and gte333f on Flickr for the photos.

Dillard House
768 Franklin Street
Dillard, GA 30537
800-541-0671

Never before have I stalked anyone while drinking a pina colada. But there I was at Lorelei Cabana Bar and Restaurant in Islamorada, Florida, getting annoying close to a retired couple as they watched the sun set. Why? Because they were rocking in prime real estate: one of the gliders — with a table — that sat six. And the check was already paid, with the tip tucked under the salt shaker.

Lorelei Cabana Bar and Restaurant

Patience was rewarded. The couple left 20 minutes before the sky’s finale, leaving us to watch the sky fill with pinks and reds, and rock in the beachside glider as we debated how we wanted to eat our fish that night: over mixed greens or nestled inside a bun?

We were staying just across the street at the Islander Resort, a fixture of a motel at mile marker 82.1 along US 1. Whether you’re en route to Key West as we were during our road trip, or in search of a chill place for the family vacation, consider the Islander. It’s on the beach and the rooms have screened-in porches. Barbecue grills around the property make it easy and fun to feed the family and stay under budget.

The pool at the Islander Resort

As far as fun activities, the Islander offers bicycles, sailboats, kayaks, water trikes and snorkel gear. Choose to swim in the Atlantic Ocean or the resort’s pool. The Islander is also a great spot for weddings, or for hosting the wedding party should you want a Florida Keys wedding.

No matter what the reason is that brings you to Islamorada, just don’t be surprised if you get a little eager as dusk falls. The scenery is a big draw to the Florida Keys and everyone wants the best seats for the big show.

To find out more, call 305-664-2031.

Photos by Brooke Morton and courtesy of the Islander Resort.

From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Snowboarder at Yosemite

The snow has arrived at Yosemite’s Badger Pass and for those who prefer snowshoeing in the Sierra National Forest, Tenaya Lodge is a wonderful home base.  As a California girl, I think winter is one of the best times to visit the Yosemite region with the blanket of snow in the sierras and icicles hanging from misty waterfalls.  Even the animals seem more serene this time of year.

Ski Packages

The Lodge has three winter packages to please spa girls, snow bunnies or snow boarders. Available midweek, starting at $169, packages include nightly accommodations and two all-day adult lift tickets. The Learn to Ski or Snowboard package includes nightly accomodations, two lift tickets, two all-day rentals and two group lessons.  This is worthwhile if your kids are eager to try snowboarding but you don’t want to shell out the bucks to purchase equipment that might get parked in the hall closet.

Ahh Spa!

Tenaya Lodge Spa

The last package is more of a Girlfriend Getaway or “Keep Mom Happy” while we ski package. It includes lodging, two one-hour Champagne-Mimosa Massages, two one-hour Fire & Ice Facials, two ice skating sessions with rentals and a spa welcome basket starting at $709. For those of us with champagne tastes and beer budgets, Tenaya has an indoor swimming pool. Our kids thought the underwater speakers were very cool.

Winemasters Weekend – March 6-8, 2009

Tenaya Winemasters Weekend

For the foodies among us, check out the Winemasters Weekend, a joint venture between Tenaya Lodge and California State University Fresno. While UC Davis has Mondavi cache, Fresno has a world-class viticulture and enology center graduating California’s newest winemakers and cellar rats. The Winemasters Weekend includes two nights accommodations, a welcome reception, top notch cuisine and if you can manage to lace up your skates; ice skating is included. Also included, three hands-on workshops with fellow food and wine lovers and the Winemaster’s Masterpiece Gala Reception and Dinner.  For pricing, schedule of events, menu and more details, visit TenayaLodge.com/Winemasters. 

 Photos courtesy Tenaya Lodge

Tenaya Lodge (800) 722-8584

1122 Highway 41, Fish Camp, CA 93623

I was flipping though a tide calendar for Washington and the photo for May caught my eye: It’s of houseboats in Portage Bay, with the University of Washington in the background. Tied to each houseboat was a watercraft: a kayak, canoe, row boat, etc. The way the sun dappled across the homes and water just made the scene so inviting. And then I realized that I need to live in a houseboat (one can dream, no?). I mentioned this to my folks (who live in the greater San Francisco area), and they steered me toward this rental in Sausalito, California.

This houseboat in Sausalito is nothing less than posh. For $495 a night, enjoy three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms in one of San Francisco’s most beautiful, sanctuary-like neighborhoods. Inside, one could easily forget that this home floats. The dining room seats six and there’s a grandfather clock. And there are three decks from which to enjoy the view. This luxury houseboat even has a fireplace! This pick might be on the pricier side, but it’s certainly a good way to indulge in the houseboat lifestyle.

And there’s plenty to do in the greater San Francisco area, from hiking Mount Tamalpais to touring the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Photo courtesy of VRBO.

For those who can’t make it to Sweden to see ICEHOTEL, there’s a runner-up in Kissimmee, Florida: ICE!, a kid-friendly winter wonderland created by Gaylord Palms Resort. 

ICE! at Gaylord Palms Resort

From now until January 4, 2009, resort guests and visitors can experience what artists have hand carved from two million pounds of ice: a walk-through igloo, ice slides, an oversized “Santa’s Knee” attraction designed for photo opportunities, life-size nativity scene and more.

Because this is Florida, many residents don’t have the parkas needed to stay warm inside the exhibit, which is chilled to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Thankfully, Gaylord Palms provides coats.

And right now, Gaylord Palms Resort is offering “The Best of Florida Christmas Experience” packages. Starting at $199 per night (minimum two nights), guests receive unlimited tickets to ICE!, a complimentary photo and a gingerbread experience. Chefs will be on hand to help guests create gingerbread house souvenirs.

Gaylord Palms Resort is located in the greater Orlando area and is close to theme parks and other attractions, such as themed restaurants. Plus, the resort serves up its own fun at places like Sunset Sam’s Fish Camp, a restaurant where guests can nibble appetizers aboard a 60-foot-long sailboat in the Key West Atrium. And if you’re looking to chill out away from the kids, try a treatment at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub.

ICE! attraction courtesy of Gaylord Palms Resort.

The Messina Room of La Cappella Suites in Boston

When my parents and I visited my brother and his wife who live in Boston, we wanted a cozy bed-and-breakfast close to public transportation. Our motive? To make the visit as seamless as possible by not crowding those we had traveled to see and not needing a rental car.

La Cappella Suites in Boston’s North End surpassed our expectations. We rented two connecting suites and had the fifth floor to ourselves. The home was built in 1941 so its solidly constructed walls would probably keep out noises no matter which room you choose, but we enjoyed absolute silence being the only guests on our floor.

The location couldn’t have been more convenient. It was a short walk to the subway (the T) but even better was the chance to explore the North End, aka Boston’s Little Italy. Only recently did I taste my first cannoli (how this is possible after living in New York for six years, I don’t know) and enjoyed conducting a cannoli taste test in the neighborhood. Mike’s Pastry, thank you. The trophy is in the mail. And my family never gets sick of pasta, especially when it’s homemade, so it was a treat for us to try as many restaurants as we could. We couldn’t get enough of everything we tried, except the limoncello, the ubiquitous after-dinner drink that was too sweet for our liking.

The rooms were clean and comfortable; the beds on par with Westin’s heavenly ones. My room even had a balcony. In one corner of the kitchen was a computer with Internet, which helped us plan daily activities. The kitchen had a full-size fridge (great for leftover ravioli), a toaster, dishwasher and microwave. La Cappella suites stocked the cabinets and fridge with cereal, bagels, milk and orange juice. That would have been a fine enough breakfast had we been there on business, but you know how it is when you travel with family: Every meal is a celebration (aka production). Luckily, there was a diner just three doors down that served hearty omelettes and other fare.

Special thanks to La Cappella Suites for the photo of the Messina Room.

Portofino Bay Hotel is a little piece of Italy in Orlando, Florida — with a canal and boat service to Universal Studios Florida, just one of the area’s theme parks — but with the warmth you expect from the Sunshine State. It’s a sophisticated resort that’s fun, not stuffy. (Bonus: There’s not a mouse in sight.) Adults will enjoy the convenience and the resort’s amenities, such as onsite gelato and pizzeria shops. Oh, and there’s a bar called The Thirsty Fish next to the boat pick-up spot, so you can enjoy a glass of Cabernet as the sun sets, or before you slip off to play a round of bocce before dinner.

The newest addition for families? Portofino Bay Hotel has recently introduced Dr. Seuss-themed suites. The Cat in the Hat, Horton, the Grinch and the Sneetches are all found in these just-for-kids rooms that attach to regular, non-Seuss rooms for parents. One new safety feature is that the kids can only open the door to their parents’ room, not the hallway. 

Kids will flip for the pool — it has a water slide as well as several lifeguards, who double as activity leaders. (Marco Polo is definitely easier when someone else recruits enough players for a rousing game.) There’s also a beach at one end of the pool for those who like building sandcastles. The wait staff is prompt and efficient, often handing you a menu before you realize you’re craving quesadillas. The blended drinks are on the pricey side, but they’re a delicious mix of mango, pineapple and other fresh fruits. A mix of family-friendly tunes from Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley are piped in to keep the island-themed party going.

The quieter pool at Portofino Bay Hotel.

If you haven’t heard of Dora the Explorer, perhaps you might prefer the adults-only pool where the mood is quieter and more serene (much better for catching up on back issues of “The New Yorker”.) The resort seems to attract many families — who tend to prefer the liveliness and built-in babysitters of the other pool — which means you’ll have no trouble finding several lounge chairs here.

Every night at 6:30, the main piazza becomes the stage for a short opera performance. You might get caught up in the moment and need to remind yourself that you’re not vacationing along the Italian Riviera, but in Orlando.

Plus, Loews Hotels and Universal Resort Orlando are offering a special deal from November 30 – December 18, 2008: Guests who stay at least three nights receive a Universal Resort Orlando Savings Guide with $150 in food and merchandise discounts — plus a special bonus. Also with a three-night stay or longer, enjoy a $25 Universal Orlando gift card for use throughout the resort. And the longer you stay, the more bonuses you’ll enjoy. Ask Portofino Bay for more details.

Special thanks to the Portofino Bay Hotel for the aerial view of their pool.